The Department of Education’s August 3rd letter to university presidents and governing boards raises several important questions. But the way those questions are presented may make it harder for institutions to engage with them productively. The letter asks institutions to examine issues, including: The ideas themselves are worth considering, but the problem is in the […]
When Markets Shrink: What Higher Ed Can Learn From Healthcare, Hospitality, and Media
Higher education likes to think of itself as unique. In many ways, it is. But the financial pressures facing colleges and universities are not entirely new. Other industries have already dealt with shrinking markets. Their experiences offer some useful lessons for higher education. The latest CBO survey confirms what many leaders are seeing: 46 percent […]
The Top 10 Warning Signs of College Closure
Recently, a board member at one of our client institutions reached out to ask, “What are the biggest warning signs that a college is at risk of closure?” Not every warning sign carries equal weight. Three indicators tell you whether an institution is in immediate financial danger. Two more point to structural problems that often […]
The Confidence Paradox: Why 2026’s Optimism Masks a Structural Crisis
There’s a strange disconnect in the latest Inside Higher Ed survey of chief business officers. Eighty-three percent of institutions expect to be financially stable over the next five years, up from 73 percent last year. Most CBOs describe their institution’s financial health “good” or “excellent.” As I told Inside Higher Ed for their coverage of […]
How Endowments Get Spent Down — and What Leaders Should Do About It
Endowment depletions rarely start with a formal decision. More often, one gift posted to the operating account doesn’t make it to the investment pool—and then another. Then the financial team decides to hold off on the transfer until the budget situation stabilizes. Then they make a formal resolution to spend at a slightly higher rate […]
Are We Training Graduates for Jobs That Exist?
Some degrees are in high demand. Others are flooding the market. Here’s how to tell which is which, and why it matters more than ever.
Transparency in Times of Financial Challenge: How and When
In the toughest financial moments, communication strategy matters as much as financial strategy.
Innovation That Pays: Aligning Price, Outcomes, and Financial Strategy in Higher Education
Incremental change keeps institutions stable. Disruptive change keeps them alive.